A group of Tinley Park High School students and chaperones sit on the steps of the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in Quebec, Canada, during a French language and cultural immersion trip. The students pose in front of the basilica’s grand stone façade, featuring ornate arches, columns, and a large rose window under a bright blue sky. The visit was one of many educational experiences that allowed students to explore the history, culture, and architecture of French-speaking Canada.

Tinley Park High School French Students Explore Canada Through Language and Culture

Bremen High School D228

June 24, 2026

Eighteen Tinley Park High School students recently traveled to Montreal and Quebec City with World Languages teacher Madame Selime Baftiri-Ballazhi for an immersive experience in French language, history, culture, and daily life.

During the five-day trip, students visited some of French-speaking Canada’s most iconic sites, including Château Frontenac, the Plains of Abraham, Montmorency Falls, Saint Anne Canyon, and the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. They also explored local culture through stops at a traditional cabane à sucre, a chocolatier, a cidrerie, and Montreal’s Jean-Talon Market.

Additional highlights included walking tours of Old Quebec, Petit Champlain, and Place Jacques-Cartier, a ferry ride across the St. Lawrence River, and visits to Mont Royal, the Military Museum and Citadelle, and a museum featuring intricate wood carvings and artwork.

For many students, the trip was their first international travel experience and their first time traveling abroad without their parents. Baftiri-Ballazhi said those moments are an important part of learning.

“I am a firm believer that world language students are most impacted when they actually go to the countries that speak the language they are studying,” she said. “Students gain experience, empathy, and confidence, and they become less intimidated by international travel.”

Baftiri-Ballazhi, who has led 10 student trips, said she hopes experiences like this help students grow into global citizens.

“Truly experiencing another culture cannot happen through a screen,” she said. “Students must walk the streets, breathe in the air, and interact with the locals.”

The trip gave Titans the opportunity to practice language skills, build independence, and create unforgettable memories while experiencing the culture firsthand.